Classroom ventilation

Classroom ventilation

Last updated on November 25, 2022

The table below lists the classrooms where the ventilation has been assessed.

All category 1.0-1.3 classrooms in the University’s campus and facilities planning database were assessed in 2021-22, to be equipped for six equivalent air changes per hour—the same standard used in healthcare settings, such as patient examinations rooms. Public health guidance from Harvard University indicates that six air changes per hour is considered ideal for classrooms. 98% of our classrooms exceed this ideal ventilation target. The University has focused on classrooms because a larger number of people are coming in and out of classrooms compared to other spaces.  

Resources

To learn more about U of T’s approach to classroom ventilation upgrades, read this U of T News story. 

To learn more about ventilation in buildings, which impacts office and general–use spaces, review our COVID-19 HVAC strategy and central ventilation page.

Some instructional spaces were also assessed if the space met the criteria of a “high” density instructional space (65 persons/100 square metre), as described in the Ventilation section in Chapter 3 of the General Workplace Guidelines.

How to use this table

Select the campus you’re interested in and then filter by building to review the classrooms’ air change rates. You can also search for a specific classroom.

Air change rate means how many times the total air volume of the space has been exchanged for fresh air in an hour. If a room has an air change rate of six or above, no additional air purifier needed to be installed.

If an air purifier is installed, the classroom is equipped with an air purifier to supplement the air flow and achieve the desired air change rate standard.  

*Note: A third-party certified air balancer conducted a study in 2022, which confirmed that Room 120 in Convocation Hall and Rooms 210 and 322 in Clara Benson Building exceed the fresh air requirements for their capacity as per the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) 62.1-22 standard. The target of six equivalent air changes per hour is not feasible in these room due to their large size.